FRA Proposes Train Crew Size Safety Requirements

On July 28, 2022, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) proposed new regulations to establish safe minimum train crews size requirements for various types of rail operations. The FRA proposal includes:

  • A minimum requirement of two crewmembers for all railroad operations (with exceptions for operations that do not pose significant safety risks to railroad employees, the public, or the environment),
  • Minimum requirements for the location of crewmembers on moving trains (to promote safe and effective teamwork), and
  • A special approval procedure to allow railroads to petition FRA to continue legacy operations with one-person train crews and allow any railroad to petition FRA for approval to initiate a new train operation with fewer than two crewmembers.

Comments are due to FRA by Monday, September 26, 2022.

Read the Federal Register Notice at 2022-15540.pdf (govinfo.gov) and file comments at Regulations.gov (Docket No. FRA-2021-0032).

Advocacy contact: Assistant Chief Counsel Bruce Lundegren at bruce.lundegren@sba.gov or 202-205-6144.